Popular Wisconsin Venue Says ‘No Concerts’ In 2017

Rockford music lovers often head up north to East Troy, WI for concerts throughout the summer, but that's about to change this year.

If you look at the event calendar for Alpine Valley from the month of April and beyond, it's completely empty. No, it's not a mistake, there are concerts scheduled for the amphitheater in 2017. No yearly shows like Dave Matthews Band or Jimmy Buffett, and no return of Zac Brown Band. However, the popular venue is not closing for good.

On Thursday, Live Nation announced it will not be opening Alpine Valley Music Theatre in Elkhorn for the 2017 season.

So what's the problem? Why are these acts bowing out of stopping in East Troy, WI?

“Either they’re not coming through Wisconsin or are playing at places like Wrigley Field instead of Alpine Valley,” he continued. “Dave Matthews, the band, isn’t touring this year. Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds are touring together, but they’re playing at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago.”

Alpine Valley will reopen for concerts in 2018, according to mywalworthcounty.com, but until then the venue will be updated and upgraded.

Live nation will use the down season to make some repairs and upgrades to the music theater, including some general maintenance around the facility, repairs to the roof of the main expo building and replacing some of the vending equipment along with some food and beverage equipment.

The report goes on to say Live Nation will bring back some of their yearly acts as well as book acts that haven't played at the amphitheater yet.

Some of the country artists and bands I would love to see play at Alpine Valley are Blake Shelton, Little Big Town, Lady Antebellum, Luke Bryan, Granger Smith (Earl Dibbles Jr.), and Jake Owen.